There were 17 children in the family and betsy ross was the eight children in the. Betsy ross, a fourthgeneration american born in 1752 in philadelphia, pennsylvania, apprenticed with an upholsterer before irrevocably splitting with her family to marry outside the quaker religion. Betsy ross biography facts, childhood, family life. Interesting book from the point of view of marketing. You may know about the betsy ross flag, but you probably didnt know that betsy lost two husbands to the war, was kicked out of her church for marrying the wrong guy and was born into a family. Though family legend would attribute johns death to a gunpowder explosion, illness is a more likely culprit. This unique flag proudly features a circle of stars to represent the original colonies. Seamstress who is credited with sewing the first american flag.
For the past 20 years, betsy has helped individuals, couples and family members to talk to each other more, fight less, and improve their ability to address issues and problem solve together. The fascinating tale of betsy ross, from sewing washington. Betsy ross was born as elizabeth griscom on january 1, 1752. Betsy ross was an american seamstress and upholsterer who has been widely credited with making the first american flag. Most historians dismiss the story about betsy ross making the first american flag. In 1772, the couple eloped and married, following which she was expelled from both her family and the quaker congregation in philadelphia. Betsy ross is one of the few women in american history whose name is known to every american, but that is not the only reason shes such a unique figure. She was disowned by the quakers when she joined the revolutionary war effort. There isnt much direct primary source information known about betsy ross.
A nice biography of elizabeth griscom ross for young children. Her parents, rebecca james griscom and samuel griscom were both quakers. Her life story transcends that one great symbol, though. Betsy ross is an american historical icon who was born on january 1, 1752. During the american revolution, ross made flags for the navy. Flag stitched into american lore what we know about betsy for a fact is that she was born january 1, 1752, the eighth of 17 children in the quaker family. Betsy ross was born on january 1, 1752, as elizabeth griscom in philadelphia, pennsylvania. Betsy ross and the making of america and millions of other books are. The only problem with the story is that it is not true. A bridge that connects pennsylvania and new jersey is named the betsy ross bridge in her honor.
What was betsy ross family information as an adult. She turns inferences into facts and then embellishes the facts with. Both young and older students can color this page while reading aloud from this biography from. Betsy ross spoke english because her family was english. On june 14, 1777, the continental congress 1, on a motion from john adams 2, adopted the stars and stripes as the national flag. Click here for a great selection of books about betsy ross. Betsy ross is thought to have sewn the first american flag. The betsy ross story is a ross family story that people did not hear until 100 years after the revolution. This admiring biography tells the story of betsy ross, including details of her childhood as a quaker in philadelphia, her apprenticeship to an upholsterer, family life, and the meeting with general washington that led to her making the nations first flag. On the cover of the pamphlet is a colored facsimile of the first flag, and within a portrait of mrs. While working at her job as an upholstering apprentice, betsy fell in love with john ross, another apprentice. Betsy ross was the widow of john ross who died from the effects of injuries received while guarding cannon balls and military stores which had been made by his uncle, george ross, a signer of the declaration of independence.
Her father was a firm believer in the quaker religion, which was a branch of christianity that. Her name was betsy ross who was from philadelphia and loves arts and crafts. Betsy gets married betsy ran away from home to marry her sweetheart, john ross. Betsy ross is one of the best known american figures from the revolutionary era.
Legend has it that betsy ross made the first american flag. Betsy ross apprenticed with an upholsterer before irrevocably splitting with her family to marry outside the quaker religion. Ross during the revolution from her shop in philadelphia. Not only is her life interesting because of the flag, but the facts and information below highlight her struggles as a widowed business owner, which are just as impressive.
Although the story is widely popular, there is no firm support for it. The concise but comprehensive book will keep your kids attention all the way to the end. She ran and owned an upholstery business with her husband. Elizabeth griscom was born on january 1, 1752, in the bustling colonial city of philadelphia. This action caused her quaker place of worship to expel her and her own family to disown her. It was against quaker religion to marry outside of the religion, so she was expelled from her family and the quakers. Well this book will tell you a lot of information about her. Betsy s dad helped hang the liberty bell in the state house. Betsy ross was promoted as a patriotic role model for young. Betsy ross, seamstress who, according to family stories, fashioned and helped design the first flag of the united states. After her death, she became a model of patriotism and a key figure in the legend of early american history. Betsy ross married john ross, an anglican, when she was just 17.
Betsy ross 17521836 became a patriotic icon in the late 19th century when stories surfaced that she had sewn the first stars and stripes u. Betsy ross 17521836 is an american icon, famous for having sewn the first american flag and personally presenting it to george washington in philadelphia in 1776. Throughout the book, miller winks at the improbabilities in the family. Ross worked as a seamstress and was eager to contribute to the cause, making tents and repairing uniforms when the colonies declared war.
For my children who would rather watch me read a book on the computer than let me read to them in person. Betsy griscom ross january 1, 1752 january 30, 1836. To ask other readers questions about betsy ross, please sign up. This biography of betsy ross is a window not only into the life of a proud and courageous woman, but also into. As the seamstress of the american flag, an enduring symbol of liberty and democracy, betsy ross is an integral part of the fabric of american history. The story of our flag cant find what youre looking for. See the fact file below for more information on the betsy ross or alternatively, you can download our 22page betsy ross worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment. Legend or legacy, here at patriot wood, we wanted to showcase the incredible story behind the betsy ross flag with our own betsy ross wood flag. If you know the answer to this question, please register to join our limited beta program and start the. Interesting as social history of a typical colonial philadelphia artisanal family. Her greatgrandfather was a carpenter who had reached new jersey in 1680 from england.
He was also an apprentice, but he was not a quaker. Betsy ross the author, with scissors and bunting, busy at her work. The fascinating tale of betsy ross, from sewing washingtons bed linens to nike controversy. Betsy meets her first husband, john ross, when she is an upholsterer apprentice. Betsy was born in philadelphia in 1752 to a very large quaker family. She learned to sew when she was apprenticed to an upholsterer. But she managed to hold a patriotism icon in the late 18 century. In 1870, decades after her death, the legend that became betsy ross began in pennsylvania. For more information, see the wikipedia article on betsy ross. Born the 8th of 17 children to a quaker family, betsy learned to read, write, and sew at an early age. This book helps readers of history be more discerning when sifting through facts.
Since betsy was a quaker, she was not allowed to marry someone outside of her religion. She was born the eighth of seventeen children of samuel griscom and rebecca james griscom. Betsy ross was born elizabeth griscom to parents samuel griscom and rebecca james in philadelphia, pennsylvania on january 1, 1752, the eighth of 17 children. Please enter an approximate age of less than 120 and a four digit birth year using whole numbers only e. Betsy ross was a close friend of general washington.
I would like to talk to anyone in the family tree who has researched our ancestry. Betsy ross, licsw works with couples, families, and individuals as a divorce transition and relationship coach, and a licensed psychotherapist. Elizabeth betsy griscom 1 january 1752 30 january 1836, popularly known as betsy ross, was the eighth of seventeen children born to samuel griscom 1730 1793 and rebecca james 1730 1793 in philadelphia, pennsylvania. Betsy and john were married in huggs tavern in gloucester, new jersey without her family. What was betsy ross family information as an adult answers. Betsy began attending school betsy came from a family of quakers. Betsy ross was incredibly beautiful like a porcelain doll. I think you can guess that her family was very important even though her family was very poor. Indeed, betsy ross is a true rarity in that she has been turned into a mythological heroine. One year before william penn founded philadelphia in 1681, betsy rosss greatgrandfather, andrew griscom. Betsy ross although the evidence is not solid, most historians point to upholsterer betsy ross 17521836 as the woman who sewed the first u. Elizabeth griscom ross, nee griscom, also known by her second and third married names, ashburn and claypoole, was an american upholsterer who was credited by her relatives in 1870 with making the first american flag, accordingly known as the betsy ross flag. Read our betsy ross facts to learn all about this inspiring woman of the revolutionary war. One year before william penn founded philadelphia in 1681, betsy rosss great grandfather, andrew griscom.
Born the eighth of seventeen children in philadelphia, betsy ross lived in a time when the american colonies were yearning for independence from british rule. The betsy ross flag is a longlasting piece of americas history. However, it is known that ross made flags for the navy. Betsy ross was the mastermind behind the design of the american. At the very least, there is not a shred of documented evidence that betsy ross did what. Betsy ross january 1, 1752january 30, 1836 was a colonial seamstress who is usually credited with creating the first american flag. Comments are turned off autoplay when autoplay is enabled, a suggested video will automatically play next. To the account are appended sundry patriotic songs and appeals said to have been written and circulated by mrs.
This informative biography supports the teaching of nonfiction text features, such as illustrations, captions, and a glossary. He married rebecca james who was a member of a prominent quaker merchant family. The ross claim is based on uncorroborated and inaccurate ross family lore that did not surface until the 1870s a century after the revolution. Have you wondered who betsy ross is or are you curios to know. Elizabeth griscom according to patriotic legend, betsy ross sewed the first american flag at the request of george washington. Her mother was rebecca james griscom, while her father was samuel griscom. This betsy ross unit study has activities for multiple ages, from preschool to elementary. Betsy ross earned responsibility to design and make the american flag because when the best sewers in philadelphia were ranked, as you can guess betsy came in first place.
Continental congressman francis hopkinson of new jersey designed two stars and stripes flags. Betsy ross biography the woman that made the first. A richly woven biography of the beloved patriot betsy ross, and an. Legend says that betsy ross sewed the first flag of the united states in 1776. Elizabeth griscom ross 17521836 wikitree free family tree. Summer is a wonderful time to get our children learning about our history andread more. She and her husband john ross started their own upholstery business. No one knows if ross spoke english or not, but what we do know is that she was taught in the family. She was a mother, a businesswoman, and a contemporary of george washington. Betsy ross was famous during the war era for designing and making flags. The betsy ross flag is an early design of the flag of the united states, named for early american upholsterer and flag maker betsy ross 107 the pattern of the betsy ross flag is alternating redandwhite stripes with stars in a field of blue in the upper left corner canton. Though most historians dismiss the story, ross family tradition holds that general george washington, commanderinchief of the continental army and two members of a congressional committeerobert morris and george rossvisited mrs.
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